Devin answered the door in pajama pants and no shirt. I heard his kids screaming somewhere in the background. He scratched his head when he realized it was me on his doorstep.

"Tristan…I didn't know you were coming by."

"I'm sorry I didn't give you a heads up. I just need to talk about something that's been bothering me," I told him. “I need your advice.”

He opened the door wider and welcomed me into his home. "How was your vacation with Elisa? She wouldn’t talk about it with me."

I rubbed my chin and stole a look at Devin. "I had the best time ever." I wanted to say more, but this was Elisa's brother.

"From the low-key manner in which you and Elisa are keeping what happened on that trip a secret, one could assume something Earth-shattering occurred and you two don't want anybody to know."

"Yet…we don't want anybody to know yet," I replied. "I haven't…marked her yet. We still want the ceremony and all that. I think we owe our people that much. That way they know it's true. We were meant to be together."

Devin smiled and clapped me on the back. "And you'll have my support."

I smiled.

"By the way, do you know where she is?" Devin asked.

"No, I thought she was here with you and Tamara. She didn't answer any of my calls, but we don't have another date until tomorrow night," I said.

Devin frowned and shook his head. "That damn girl is always up to something. She was at the old Caedmon mansion earlier. You should check there before you leave if you want to see her."

I nodded. "Yeah, I need to see her too."

Devin gestured to the grand room and a chair. "Have a seat! I'll get you a drink. Scotch, right?"

I took a seat. "You know, Devin. I don't want a drink. I just need to ask you something."

Devin sat down. "You seem nervous."

"That's because I am. I received a note from Jovan Zovic. Remember when I told you about him?"

"Yes, you told me what transpired between your families. How they reneged on your agreement to hand over the network after you united. How you forced Goran and Jovan to give up their leadership position. And how they murdered Vinny," Devin said. "You told me everything."

"They're not going to go down without a fight."

"None of our enemies do,” Devin said. "We put them down. The Zovics are no different. We'll put them down too."

I sat back in my chair. "They were the ones who were killing all my soldiers and intercepting all of my business dealings. It almost cost me my business. They could have put me out of business."

"And they also could have outed us if these killings were investigated on a massive level. They wouldn't want that, would they? To make our existence known," Devin asked.

I shook my head. "I don't know these people anymore. They've turned my life into a nightmare. Sometimes I wish my family had never made that alliance with them, but it's done."

"Yeah, don't worry. Whatever comes our way, we'll deal with it. If it's time to reveal what we are to the public, then it's time. And we'll deal with that if it comes down to that. We have connections far and wide. People…humans who know we aren't violent monsters."

I nodded "Yeah…" A bad feeling passed over me and I felt nauseous. "I don't know if it's the jet lag or not, but my fucking ears are still popping from that flight."

"I've got drinks. Water. Ginger ale. Scotch. Our family doctor moved right up the road. You should go see him and get yourself checked out."

"No…I should be fine." I stood up and rubbed my head. "Are you sure Elisa went to the old Caedmon mansion?"

Devin frowned. "We're talking about Elisa here. I can't be sure."

I grabbed hold of the chair arm as a dizzy spell took me.

"Something's not right," I said, moving toward the door.

I burst out of the mansion and looked out across the fields. Devin's mansion was hidden in the forest and all I could see were miles and miles of trees. And the tip of the mountain to the far west.

"What is it, Tristan?" Devin asked, following me outside.

I turned around. "It's Elisa. She's in trouble."

I ran out into the clearing, tore off my jacket, shirt, and shifted swiftly.